Clippers Avenge Loss, Edge Islanders

Sometimes the desire for a little revenge can be used as a great motivator. So it was Friday afternoon with Grafton's Sara Sparks.

Backed by a superb defense and a timely two-run triple by Ashley Moore, Sparks hurled a four-hitter and turned in her own defensive gem to subdue homestanding Poquoson 2-1.

Not only did the victory avenge an earlier 6-4 loss on a seventh- inning home run, but it moved the Clippers into a first-place tie with the Islanders in the Bay Rivers District standings with one game to go.

Both teams are 15-2 in the league and 15-3 overall. New Kent visits Grafton Tuesday, while Poquoson hosts Tabb.

"Sure I was thinking about first place, but I really wanted to beat them for revenge," Sparks said. "I was a little more in the zone today."

The Islanders scored their run in the third on back-to-back singles by Kristen McCormick and Evelyn Garcia and a passed ball.

After that, Sparks allowed only two baserunners, a walk in the fourth and Allison McCubbins' leadoff single in the sixth.

It was after McCubbins' hit that Sparks' glove saved her some serious trouble. Ashley Walker, who had beaten her with that seventh- inning home run, smashed a line shot back through the box. Sparks snagged it and then doubled the runner off first.

"I just reacted," said the senior right-hander. "I wasn't going to let her beat me again."

Sparks then retired the last four batters to end the game.

Sparks outdueled freshman left-hander Sarah Evans, who only allowed baserunners in only three innings, surrendering just five hits while walking none.

But the third stanza was her downfall. A single by Erin Mosher and Sarah Henry's double preceded Moore's triple over the right fielder's head.

"It was an outside pitch I hit well," said Moore, a sophomore center fielder. "I was just trying to get a base hit to score a run."

"Sara had good concentration, and her location was good today," Grafton coach Dena Montini said.

"I had to adjust to the umpire's strike zone because he wasn't calling my inside pitch early," Sparks said.